In Depth:  John Dunnett

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Imagining the CofE 'de facto parallel province' as a reality

Imagining the CofE 'de facto parallel province' as a reality
John Dunnett
John Dunnett

You may have heard mention of a ‘de facto parallel province within the Church of England’ over these last few weeks.

The announcement of the Alliance to the commitment of its construction has been met with widespread appreciation within the evangelical constituency, but with various questions being raised. Let's look at two of those questions now.

Why this fund is vital for CofE evangelicals

Why this fund is vital for CofE evangelicals
John Dunnett
John Dunnett

The Church of England is fundamentally divided over the issue of sex and marriage.

For too long we’ve been trying to put sugar and salt in the same pot. We need to be honest – in the Church of England we have actually got two different visions of the future we wish to build (in reality, I suspect we actually have two gospels – it certainly is the case that the question ‘What does repentance and faith look like?’ will elicit divergent answers).

Synod decision sees launch of 'parallel province'

Synod decision sees launch of 'parallel province'
John Dunnett
John Dunnett

The decision to approve the bishops’ proposals at July’s General Synod meeting has kicked off the launch of the de facto parallel province, as warned of by the Alliance (a coalition of groups within the Church of England who are committed to upholding the existing biblical and historic doctrine of marriage and sexual ethics). CEEC will now work with our partners in the Alliance to make this a reality.

Following the Synod decision, standalone services of blessing for same sex couples will now happen in the very near future in a church near you. The timetable has also been set for the removing of discipline and rules around clergy marrying their same sex partners. It is dismaying that the leaders of the Church of England seem intent on leading the church away from the Biblical teaching and doctrine passed down through the centuries and shared by millions of Christians in the Anglican Communion today.

The urgent need for a CofE ‘settlement:’ Key questions

The urgent need for a CofE ‘settlement:’ Key questions
John Dunnett
John Dunnett

Following the most recent Church of England General Synod, it was announced that three groups would take forward the work of the ‘Living in Love and Faith’ (LLF) project relating to prayers for same-sex couples, and would be overseen by a programme board chaired by the Archbishop of York.

These three working groups are looking at pastoral guidance, the introduction of standalone ‘Prayers of Love and Faith’, and charged with proposing provisions or a ‘settlement’, as deemed necessary.

Bullying and exclusion: Why evangelicals need new C of E structures

Bullying and exclusion: Why evangelicals need new C of E structures
John Dunnett
John Dunnett

It is still being assumed by those pursuing change in the Church of England that we can simply ‘agree to disagree’ over matters of same-sex marriage and blessings. In practice, this means that the permission not to use the Prayers of Love and Faith is a sufficient provision and that either no or minimum structural rearrangement is necessary.

This, however, remains a theological ostrich with its head in the sand. How can the Church of England simultaneously say that same-sex marriage and blessings are both sinful and holy? And as someone who holds to a globally acknowledged Biblical position on human sexuality, my conscience will not allow me to simply accept a Church of England that blesses sin as if it were holiness.

Can we still avoid Anglicanism falling apart?

Can we still avoid Anglicanism falling apart?
John Dunnett
John Dunnett

At the end of last year, the Prayers of Love and Faith entered Church of England ‘currency’. In short, a library of prayers has been commended by the House of Bishops that will enable clergy to conduct prayers of blessing for couples in a parish church who are in a sexually active relationship outside of heterosexual marriage.

There is an imminent prospect of so-called ‘standalone’ services seemingly being brought in on an experimental basis, and some of the bishops have also indicated their desire to make it possible for clergy to marry same-sex partners.

Will there be a place for me in the Church of England?

Will there be a place for me in the Church of England?
John Dunnett
John Dunnett

In August, the Church of England announced that a series of meetings were to be held in September ahead of the bishops presenting to November’s General Synod ‘proposals to enable same-sex couples to come to church following a civil marriage or civil partnership for prayers of dedication, thanksgiving and for God’s blessing’.

This was a stark signal that the bishops are still intending to ‘move the goalposts’ in the Church of England’s teaching and practice regarding sexual ethics and to introduce significant change. As such, this will be a more substantive change than other liberalising changes in recent times since it will formally enshrine in our liturgy a doctrinal change divergent to our ‘foundation deeds’.

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